Supreme committee to investigate Omraniya incident formed: JOC

INA-  Baghdad


Joint Operations Command JOC announced Friday, forming a supreme committee to investigate the circumstances of Omraniyah incident in Diyala.

A statement from the Security Media Cell received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA) stated that, “Implementing directives of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Deputy Commander of Joint Operations, Lieutenant General Qais al-Muhammadawi, arrived at dawn Friday, to Diyala Governorate, accompanied by Commander of the Ground Forces and a number of officers of the Command Staff, in order to determine the circumstances of the incident that occurred yesterday evening, Thursday, in the governorate, in which a number of innocent people were killed."

The statement indicated that "immediately upon the Deputy Commander of Joint Operations' arrival at the Diyala Operations Command, he held a security meeting with the leaders and security services, during which he stressed pursuing the perpetrators and retaliating against them, to serve as an example to those who dare to harm the lives of people."

Deputy Commander of Joint Operations stressed "forming a supreme committee to investigate the circumstances of this crime, and to bring the perpetrators of this treacherous incident to justice," noting that "the blood of Iraqis cannot be tolerated, and that the security forces will pursue those who committed this cowardly act."

The statement also said that "Al-Muhammadawi attended the funeral held for the souls of the victims, and offered his condolences to the families," praising "the patience and wisdom of the victims' families and their noble and generous tribes that stood against terrorism and confronted it, protected their regions and defended Iraq in a battle of dignity and valor."

The statement added that "The Deputy Commander of Joint Operations inspected the site of the incident, and reviewed the details related to the terrorist crime."

It pointed out that "the orders and directives stipulated the preparation and provision of an ambulance plane from the resources of the Army Aviation Command to transport emergency and critical cases from Baquba Hospital to hospitals in the capital, Baghdad."